rumination and the displacement of aggression in uk gang affiliated youth

Question 1

what is directed aggression

Answer 1

directed towards a person or object that is not the source of the provocation of negative effect

Question 2

what is triggered displaced aggression

Answer 2

disproportionate levels of aggression directed at an individual who provides a minor provocation, as a function of a prior provocation

Question 3

what are the three situations that prelude retaliation that can set the context for displacing aggression

Answer 3

1) provoking situation has immaterial source (e.g., economy is bad)

2) source of provocation leaves before you retaliate

3) provocateur has power over you

these situations can increase chances of venting/over-reacting

Question 4

why should we expect a greater tendency to display aggression in this population

Answer 4

1) non-normative behaviours bring them into conflict with others, including authority figures. this leads to more aversive events that may prime them for aggression

2) social environments that produce maladaptive behaviours and lifestyles may also produce more negative affect overall, which also primes aggressive responding

3) previous factors may enhance rumination

Question 5

what is rumination, and what can it lead to

Answer 5

self focused attention to one’s thoughts and feelings and their causes

can lead to maintaining negative affect and cognitive representations of provoking events, keeping individuals primed for aggressive responding

gang members are expected to ruminate more than non gang members, because they may perceive anger as useful

Question 6

Vasquez study - method

Answer 6

1) aggression sub scale of displaced aggression questionnaire
2) angry rumination scale
3) aggression questionnaire
4) 5 items from caprara’s irritability questionnaire
5) five additional items about displacing aggression to siblings and friends and members of other groups

Question 7

what did Vasquez study find?

Answer 7

being strongly affiliated with gang is positively related to rumination and displaying aggression to others

aggression towards others is not only related to individual differences and gang norms, but also by tendency to ruminate about aversive events. this also mediates the relationship between gang affiliation and displaced aggression